4.

Gas Turbine And Jet Propulsion

Turbine is the most satisfactory power developing unit because it is free from vibrations and it
has ability to produce large power from comparatively small size and weight.

Now a days turbojets are universally used in all aircraft . Gas turbines are more popular for
Marine application, locomotives and power generation .

Assumptions for the analysis of constant pressure closed cycle

1) Compression and expansion are isentropic.

2) Pressure losses and heat losses in the system are neglected.
3) Specific heat of working fluid remains constant throughout the cycle.
4) Kinetic energy of fluid entering the compressor and leaving the turbine is same.

Open cycle gas turbine

The air is taken into the compressor at atmospheric condition and it is compressed . Now the
high pressure and high temperature air is supplied in the combustion chamber at constant
pressure . The product of combustion then passes through the turbine where it expands for
doing mechanical work . The part of power developed by the turbine is used for driving the
compressor. The product of combustion coming from the turbine are released into the
atmosphere . The working fluid must be replaced continuously because they are released into
the atmosphere
Closed cycle constant pressure gas turbine

The compressed fluid coming out from compressor is heated in heater by an external source at
constant pressure and then high pressure and high temperature fluid develops work while
passing through the turbine. The gases coming out from the turbine is cooled to its original
temperature in the cooler using external cooling source.

Advantages of closed cycle over open cycle

1) Higher pressure throughout the cycle results in reducing the size of plant for given
output.
2) Closed cycle awards corrosion and erosion of turbine blades.
3) Filtration of incoming air is not required in closed cycle because compressor has to
handle Limited amount of clean air.
4) Solid fuel can be used because indirect heating is used in closed cycle . This reduces cost
of power developed .
5) Maintenance cost is low and reliability is high due to longer useful life .
6) Working fluid in closed cycle is not necessarily air . Heavier working fluid with higher
adiabatic index and high specific heat can be used to reduce the size of plant , to
increase thermal efficiency and to increase the output for given maximum temperature
and mass flow rate .

Disadvantages of closed cycle

1) Large amount of cooling water is required in cooler therefore its use is limited to
stationary installation or Marine application where large amount of water is available .
2) It cannot be used for aircraft turbines .
3) The ratio of weight per kilowatt power developed is hi high. Which is not economical for
moving vehicle .
4) Higher initial installation cost .
5) Response of power plant to the changing load on the plant is very poor .
Method for improvement of thermal efficiency of simple open cycle constant pressure gas
turbine plant

1 Regeneration

The exhaust gases from turbine carry lot of heat . The heat of exhaust gases can be used to heat
the air coming out from the compressor which will reduce the mass of fuel supplied in the
combustion chamber .

2 Intercooling

The work required by compressor can be reduced by compressing the air in two stages and by
intercooling in between the two stages .

3 Reheating

Improvement in the output can be achieved by expanding the gases in the turbine in two
stages with reheater in between the two stages . This increases the cycle efficiency .

By increasing the value of maximum cycle temperature Turbine efficiency can be increased

Advantages of gas turbine over IC engine

1 perfect balancing of rotating part is possible in gas turbine.

2 The mechanical efficiency of turbine is very high 95% compare with IC engine 85% because IC
engine has large number of sliding parts.

3 Gas turbine is a continuous power developing machine where IC engine develops power
intermittently . Torque on the turbine shaft is continuous and uniform therefore flywheel is not
required.

4 Work done per KG of air supplied in turbine is more than work done per kg of air in IC engine

5 Weight per kilowatt developed is less in gas turbine than IC engine .

The weight of gas turbine is hardly 0.15 kg/ KW where as the weight of IC engine is 2.5 kg / KW

6 Gas turbine can be driven at much higher speed 40000 RPM

7 Maximum pressure used in gas turbine is very low 5 bar compared with IC engine 60 bar
therefore components of gas turbine can be made lighter.

8 Lubrication and ignition systems are much more simple as compared with IC engine.

9 Gas turbine can use cheaper fuels like Residue oil or powdered coal .

10 Fuel consumption of gas turbine does not increase with period of operation like IC engine.

11 Installation and maintenance cost is less in turbine as compared with IC engine.

12 Exhaust from gas turbine is free from smoke and less polluting compared with IC engine
Disadvantages of turbine

1) Thermal efficiency of simple turbine is low 15 to 20% as compared to thermal efficiency

of IC engine 25 to 30%
2) Temperature of gases supplied to the turbine is up to 1100K therefore it is very difficult
to find the material which can sustain this temperature.
3) Manufacturing of blades is difficult and costly Nickel chromium alloy is used.
4) Starting of gas turbine is more difficult than IC engine
5) Turbine produces 5 times exhaust gases than IC engine for same output

Comparison between open cycle and closed cycle gas turbine

closed cycle gas turbine open cycle gas turbine

Working fluid is circulated again and again Fresh working fluid is required everytime

Heat is added indirectly through heat heat is added directly

exchanger
lower grade fuel can be used High grade fuel is to be used
size of the power plant is small Size of power plant is comparatively large
Longer blade life shorter blade life
High pressure can be maintained throughout Low pressure is to be maintained in the cycle
the cycle
Erosion and corrosion of turbine blades is Erosion and corrosion of turbine blade is
reduced more due to contaminated gases
Cycle operates with Limited amount of clean air Filtration of incoming air is required
which is used again and again so filtration is not
the major problem

Turbojet engine

This engine consists of diffuser, compressor, combustion chamber turbine and exhaust nozzle.
 The function of diffuser is to convert kinetic energy e of air into static pressure rise . Then air
enters into compressor other axial or Centrifugal which further compresses the air and delivers
it to the combustion chamber. Nozzle feeds the fuel continuously and continuous combustion
of air fuel takes place at constant pressure . Now high pressure and high temperature gases
enters into the turbine where they are expanded to provide power output . Turbine is directly
coupled with the compressor and all the power developed by the turbine is given to the
compressor . Exhaust gases from the turbine now expanded further in nozzle and these gases
leaves the nozzle with very high velocity and produce thrust for the propulsion .

Advantages of Jet propulsion

1) Specific weight of Jet propulsion is one fourth or half of reciprocating engine.

2) There are no reciprocating parts Jet propulsion is free from unbalanced forces.
3) It has small frontal area and better Aerodynamic chracterisrics.

Disadvantages

1) The plant is very noisy, materials are costly and life is short.

Turbo prop engine

It is similar to Turbo jet engine but here 80% of expansion takes place in turbine and remaining
20% expansion takes place in nozzle . The total power developed by the turbine is used to run
the compressor as well as the propeller . The forward motion of aircraft is given partly by the
propeller and partly by the jet produced by the nozzle .

Advantages

1) It develops higher thrust and power at the time of takeoff and climb.
2) Specific fuel consumption is low.
3) It has low frontal area and low weight .
4) It has less vibrations and noise
5) It has high efficiency.
Application

Turboprop engine search suitable for military and civil aircraft

Ram jet engine

It consists of of diffuser, combustion chamber and nozzle . It has no compressor .

The function of supersonic and subsonic diffuser is to convert kinetic energy of air into
pressure rise which is called as Ram pressure .

The air entering into the Ramjet with Supersonic speed is slowed down to Sonic velocity in the
Supersonic diffuser which increases air pressure .

The air pressure is further increased by subsonic diffuser increasing the temperature of air .

The fuel injected into combustion chamber is burnt with the help of flame stabilizer .

The high pressure and high temperature gases are passed through the nozzle which converts
pressure energy into kinetic energy .

This high velocity gases coming from nozzle provides forward thrust .

Major drawback of ramjet engine is it cannot be started from rest . It has to be accelerated to
certain flight velocity by some launching device . Ramjet is always equipped with small Turbojet
which helps in starting the Ramjet.

Advantages

1) No moving parts, light in weight as compared with Turbojet engine.

2) Wide variety of fields may be used.
Disadvantages

1) Ccannot be started by its own .

2) Fuel consumption is high at low and moderate speed.
3) It has to be accelerated to certain flight velocity by some launching device.

Application

Suitable at Supersonic speed used in missiles

Rrocket propulsion

Fuel and oxidizer both are mounted in the propelling body . Rocket can function in vacuum .
The rocket motor can be propelled with solid propellants or liquid propellants .

When high Thrust is required for longer duration the propellants are supplied to the nozzle at
high pressure with the help of pumps .

These pumps are operated by gas turbine where high pressure and high temperature gases
formed by the fuel and oxidizer are passed to the gas turbine.

Liquid propellants is circulated around the wall of combustion chamber and nozzle to cool the
surface .

Advantages of solid propellants

1) Much easier to store and handle.

2) Simple and low cost and ideal for military applications.

Disadvantages

1) Once propellant is ignited it consumes entire fuel without any option of shut off.
2) Cannot be used where large rest is required for longer duration of time.
Advantages of liquid propellants

1) Higher specific thrust.

2) Liquid propulsion system can be shut down, restarted or adjusted anytime.
3) Thrust can be easily adjusted.

Disadvantages

1) Special tanks are required to store the fuel and oxidizer.

2) Fuel and oxidizer is required to handle very carefully.
3) Requires very high quality valves, seals and combustion chamber.

Methods to improve thermal efficiency of open cycle constant pressure gas

turbine  plant

1 with regenerator or regeneration

2 with intercooling
3 with reheating

Regeneration method 

Exhaust gases carry lot of heat and their temperature is very high above the
ambient temperature. The heat of the exhaust gas can be used to heat the air coming
out the compressor. Thus reducing the mass of fuel supplied in the combustion
chamber.
With the use of regenerator in the circuit there is no change in the compressor work and
turbine work but reduction in the quantity of fuel supplied in combustion chamber.
Intercooling 
 

Power developed by the gas turbine is used by the compressor. The work
required by the compressor can be reduced by compressing the air in two stages and
with the use of intercooler between the two stages.
The intercooling helps to increase the net output per kg of air.

Reheating 

  Improvement in the output of turbine can be achieved by expanding the gases in

two stages with reheater in between the two stages. There is also small increase in the
cycle efficiency due to this.
Thermal efficiency of reheat cycle is so greater than the efficiency of an ordinary cycle
because the turbine work of the reheating cycle per kg of exhaust gases is greater than
that of simple cycle without affecting compressor work.